God's social program for poverty.

[Gerr]

ESV | ‎Dt 15:1 “At the end of every seven years you shall grant a release. ‎2 And this is the manner of the release: every creditor shall release what he has lent to his neighbor. He shall not exact it of his neighbor, his brother, because the LORD’s release has been proclaimed. ‎3 Of a foreigner you may exact it, but whatever of yours is with your brother your hand shall release. ‎4 But there will be no poor among you; for the LORD will bless you in the land that the LORD your God is giving you for an inheritance to possess— ‎5 if only you will strictly obey the voice of the LORD your God, being careful to do all this commandment that I command you today. ‎6 For the LORD your God will bless you, as he promised you, and you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow, and you shall rule over many nations, but they shall not rule over you. ‎7 “If among you, one of your brothers should become poor, in any of your towns within your land that the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother, ‎8 but you shall open your hand to him and lend him sufficient for his need, whatever it may be. ‎9 Take care lest there be an unworthy thought in your heart and you say, ‘The seventh year, the year of release is near,’ and your eye look grudgingly on your poor brother, and you give him nothing, and he cry to the LORD against you, and you be guilty of sin. ‎10 You shall give to him freely, and your heart shall not be grudging when you give to him, because for this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake. ‎11 For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore I command you, ‘You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.’

[phkrause]

Imagine the example that they could've been to the surrounding nations had they actually followed God's advice in this regard. Same with the sabbatical system for there crops. I read an article a while back that they, at least in a few towns in Israel, have actually started doing this and it has been working very well.

[Gerr]

Just think of the promise - "But there will be no poor among you!"

[phkrause]

Yes that is very interesting, and I would add that he knows what he's talking about.